Boiler and radiator guides for Pittsburgh homes
Written for the steam and hot-water systems in the city's pre-war houses: what to check when the boiler quits, what repairs cost, and why radiators bang or stay cold.
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Start with what your boiler is doing
Every guide here is written for the steam and hot-water systems in Pittsburgh's older houses, not for forced air. Pick the one that matches what you are seeing:
- Boiler will not start: what to check before you call
- Pipes or radiators banging: water hammer in steam systems
- One room cold while the rest heat: air vents, traps and bleeding
- Budgeting a repair or a new boiler: repair costs and replacement costs
- Getting ahead of winter: the annual service checklist
If the boiler is down right now, skip the reading and call (321) 478-0693; a person answers 24/7.
8 min read
Boiler Not Firing? What to Check Before You Call
Before you call about a boiler that will not fire, run five safe checks: thermostat, power switch, gas valve, water level or pressure, and lockout codes. Here is what each one tells you.
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8 min read
How Much Does Boiler Replacement Cost in Pittsburgh?
What published local estimates say a full boiler replacement costs in a Pittsburgh row home or older house, what that price covers, and why steam, chimneys, asbestos and condensing installs move it.
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7 min read
How Much Does Boiler Repair Cost in Pittsburgh?
Published Pittsburgh ranges for common boiler repairs, from ignitors and relief valves to circulators, expansion tanks and gas valves, and what makes one job cost more than another.
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7 min read
Why Are My Radiators Banging? Water Hammer in Old Pittsburgh Steam Systems
Banging steam radiators almost always mean water is pooling where it should not. Learn how pitch, one-pipe valves, sagging mains, pressure and near-boiler piping cause water hammer in older Pittsburgh homes.
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8 min read
One Radiator Cold, the Rest Hot: Air Vents, Traps and Bleeding Explained
One cold radiator in an otherwise warm house is usually a vent, a trap, a valve or trapped air. Here is how to tell steam from hot water and fix each the right way.
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8 min read
Annual Boiler Service Checklist: Low-Water Cutoff, Relief Valve, Skimming and More
What a yearly boiler service should cover in a Pittsburgh home, split into steam and hot water checklists: low-water cutoffs, pigtails, expansion tanks, relief valves, combustion and chimneys.
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